[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] Although North Korea did not issue a public message regarding the 7th nuclear test at the expanded meeting of the Workers' Party Central Military Commission, there is a possibility that it approved related matters privately.
It is analyzed that North Korea added important military action plans, assigned related missions to deploy and operate tactical nuclear weapons for the South at the frontline, and revised the unit organization and relevant wartime operational plans.
According to diplomatic circles on the 24th, North Korea held an expanded meeting of the Workers' Party Central Military Commission for three days from the 21st to the 23rd, where it decided on major defense policies such as strengthening war deterrence, adding operational missions for frontline units, and reorganizing military structures.
Korean Central News Agency reported on the day, "The 3rd expanded meeting of the 8th Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea was held from June 21 to 23 at the headquarters building of the Party Central Committee," adding, "Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party, led the meeting."
General Secretary Kim emphasized at this meeting that "the entire army must uphold and carry out the Party Central Committee's military construction ideology and military strategic intentions, rise up, and fully pledge to build a powerful self-defense force that can decisively defeat any enemy, thereby reliably safeguarding the dignity of our great homeland and the well-being of our great people."
Regarding the current situation, the agency conveyed that "it is essential to firmly maintain and continuously improve the absolute strength and military-technical superiority of the Korean People's Army, which is a strong bastion for defending the revolution and the homeland."
What is notable in this meeting is that North Korea added operational missions for frontline units, revised related operational plans, and approved the reorganization of the military structure of the relevant units.
In this regard, the agency stated, "It was decided to add important military action plans to the operational missions of the Korean People's Army frontline units, and while reviewing and approving major issues arising from establishing military guarantees to further expand and strengthen the country's war deterrence in line with the Party Central Committee's strategic intentions, a plan for reorganizing the military structure was ratified."
However, the agency did not specifically mention the important military action plans. Considering this, it appears that North Korea assigned related missions to deploy and operate tactical nuclear weapons for the South at the frontline, revised unit organization, and modified relevant wartime operational plans. It is also speculated that preemptive strike instructions against key targets such as major South Korean military facilities were given in case of emergency.
No message related to the 7th nuclear test from General Secretary Kim was issued at this meeting. Since the meeting was held with preparations for the 7th nuclear test completed, there was keen interest in whether a message regarding the nuclear test would be released.
However, if North Korea is considering the actual deployment of tactical nuclear weapons, it is essential to enhance the technical completeness of tactical nuclear weapons through the 7th nuclear test, so there is also a possibility that related plans were approved privately.
Considering that the agency reported, "Strategic and tactical tasks to strongly promote military-technical strengthening of the armed forces and immediate national defense construction missions were confirmed, and organizational and political measures to ensure thorough implementation of our Party's defense policy were decided," this possibility is not insignificant.
Jung Sung-jang, director of the North Korea Research Center at the Sejong Institute, said, "Since North Korea mentioned a comprehensive review of national defense projects for the first half of this year at this meeting, it is likely that evaluations and discussions on the deployment plans of hypersonic missiles, cruise missiles, medium-range ballistic missiles, new ICBMs, new tactical guided weapons, and SLBMs tested this year were conducted," adding, "Just as the first expanded meeting of the Party Central Military Commission was held in early February 2013 after General Secretary Kim took power, followed by a nuclear test on the 13th of the same month, it is expected that North Korea will soon proceed with a nuclear test after this meeting."
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